Time marches on, and the P-51 Lucy Gal project continues to eat the elephant “one bite at a time.” Since our last update (click HERE to read about it), a great deal of momentum and interest has steered towards this effort to honor our local missing Tuskegee Airman, Flight Officer Leland H. Pennington (“Sticks”). This influx of energy and optimism all began this past spring. In June, I attended the Rochester IPMS (International Plastic Modelers’ Society) Noreastcon. I was invited by my friend, Club President Marty Snow, to bring some parts of Lucy Gal and materials to hand out to the attendees. While at this competition-expo, I became friends with John Cummings. A highly skilled plastic modeler, John was quite taken with the story of Pennington and Lucy Gal. On the spot, he offered to build me a couple of Lucy Gal replica models, of varying scales. In the time since we met at Noreastcon, John has successfully completed a 1/32 scale concept model of what Lucy Gal will one day look like. The 1/32 model is half visible, allowing you to see the “inner workings” of a Mustang. John continues to progress on Lucy Gal 1/48, which will be part of our traveling display.
In Leland’s hometown in Western New York, a truly remarkable organization called the Military History Society of Rochester is based. The MHSR is a not-for-profit historical society, chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York. They keep local and national military history alive through a wide array of displays, including WWII aviation militaria. I first came about the MHSR a year ago, when I wrote an article for Vintage Aviation News about the Norden Bombsight and its connection to Rochester-based Eastman-Kodak. After visiting the society and meeting the bombsight and President Chuck Baylis, I had the idea of developing a display for Leland there. I have since collaborated with Chuck to create a space to tell the story of Leland and Lucy Gal, complete with the 1/32 model John built and our Mustang’s instrument panel. The most unique part about our new display is the location. The Military History Society of Rochester is located one street over from Alma Place, where Leland grew up. You know what they say, “location, location, location!” It was meant to be.
Speaking of location, I am lucky to live so close to the Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT is well known internationally for its broad range of programs, including a Museum Studies B.S. A year ago, the program director, Juilee Decker, reached out to me after we met at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo. With the help of Juilee and intern Allie, we were able to scan all the P-51 microfiche prints that I had been keeping in storage (for what seemed like an eternity). Furthermore, we have discussed the possibility of working with other RIT departments and external resources to organize a search for Leland and Lucy Gal. RIT has a satellite campus in Croatia, where Pennington and his P-51 were last seen. Our intern Allie did a lot of legwork, which included physics calculations, on where they could possibly have ended up. I am optimistic about the prospect of a search, and we will continue to pursue this opportunity as resources allow.
I mentioned earlier how the momentum on the Lucy Gal efforts really began to build this past spring. I attribute this in large part to a new path I decided to take to tell the story of Leland and his Mustang. Thanks to my EAA Chapter 44, I was able to offer a new program called How to Fly Lucy Gal, a Warbird Pilot Ground School. The program was offered monthly, and it covered the training process and aircraft used on a Cadet’s path to flying the P-51 in WWII. How to Fly Lucy Gal was broken into five parts: CPTP (Meyers OTW), Primary (PT-26), Basic (BT-13), Advanced (AT-6), and Fighter Transition (P-51). We covered the maneuvers, along with aircraft systems, limitations, checklists, and performance. We also covered the story of Leland Pennington and Lucy Gal along the way.
In the midst of teaching the How to Fly Lucy Gal sessions, I began to spread my own wings and branch out more into the world of warbirding. I took a mini “vacation” to Kissimmee, Florida, where I met my friend Lou Horschel. Local to me, and a frequent performer at our Geneseo Airshow, Lou is a wealth of knowledge on the Mustang, Corsair, and many other warbirds. He is also an inspiring pilot. I was given a tour of Stallion 51 by Lou, and I got to see firsthand the premier facility for developing future Mustang pilots and for keeping P-51s flying. I was honored to be introduced to Lee Lauderback and his brothers during my visit. Standing there in the hangar with Lou and the Lauderback brothers, talking “warbird shop” and flying, was really gratifying. I felt like I was being welcomed through the door that I have dreamt of and worked towards my whole life. I am extremely grateful to Lou, Lee and the Stallion 51 crew for the opportunity to set foot in the door. I’ll continue to build experience in the PT-26 and Harvard.
The visit to Stallion 51 gave me a renewed sense of energy and determination. From this trip onward, I’ve noticed a Deathstar-like forcefield, pulling opportunities toward the Lucy Gal project. I recently had a local warbird friend reach out to me, offering to give our Mustang project a “spark.” Paul Faltyn, currently an ace PT-26 owner and pilot, offered to deal me a cache of NOS spark plugs for the P-51’s V-1650 that he had, which were given to him by his good friend Rick Korff. Back in the 80s and 90s, Rick was a warbird superstar in Western New York, serving as custodian to the B-25 Panchito and P-51 Six Shooter. After passing Six Shooter onto her new owner some time ago, Rick supplied Paul with these plugs. Rick passed recently, but the legacy of his efforts to “keep them flying” will stay alive, once Six Shooter’s plugs are firing Lucy Gal’s Merlin cylinders. We can’t think of a better way to keep the WNY P-51 and owner’s legacy alive.
The P-51 Lucy Gal project never stops pushing. Despite a lack of a substantial airframe, wings, engine, or funding, we are still moving forward with the end goal in mind. I must apologize for being cliché, but we have more “big things” in the works. It would be premature to name them at this time, but that’s the great thing about writing articles: you can always write a follow-up. I’d like to extend a “thank you” to Marty Snow, John Cummings, Chuck Baylis, Paul Faltyn, Dr. Juilee Decker, Allie Cassela, Mark Scheda (EAA 44), Lou Horschel, and the Lauderback brothers for their roles in the growth of Lucy Gal and my personal warbird career. I am greatly looking forward to what’s on the horizon. Until next time, keep ‘em flying!
